He Brought Her Home One Stormy Night
And tied her to the wood
He checked the knots just one more time
And decided they were good.
He’d done this to her every night
For as long as she had known
Without so much as a “by your leave”
Like she was his to own.
He’d bring her in, and tie her down
And not without some skill
The knots he used always held firm
She couldn’t fight his will.
The night would pass and he would come
And send her out again
Or keep her in and spend the day drunk
Or loan her to a friend.
For years they went on in this way
He’d tie her down, and go
She’d spend the night straining at knots
And be just a bit too slow.
But then one night it came to pass
He brought her home hung over
She’d never have a better chance
To leave this heartless owner.
The thunder roared and lightning flashed
While overhead the strife
She pulled and tugged against the knots
As though for her very life.
All night she struggled with the ropes
And then the knots, each one
She’d throw herself this way and that
Until they came undone.
The dawn did come, as come it must
And by its light she sees
The ropes hung loose and all undone
A moment to seize, indeed.
But here he came at a flat out run
As fast as ever he could
“CATCH HER! STOP HER!” she heard him scream.
“TIE HER BACK TO THE WOOD!!”
But no one moved, since no one could.
They looked on silently.
They looked, and watched, and cheered her on.
They were tied down too, you see.
She tore herself from his grasping hands
Cast off with dignity
And without so much as a backward look
She sailed out to sea.